Shrewsbury school superintendent seeks to restore 21 positions

This budget is a start. We have so far to go before we can catch up to where we need to be.

-- John R. Samia, SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER

SHREWSBURY 
School Superintendent Joseph M. Sawyer Wednesday night proposed a fiscal 2014 budget that includes restoring 21 of the 31 full-time teaching positions that had been cut in previous budget cycles.

Mr. Sawyer told the School Committee the proposed budget of $54.28 million will begin to restore staffing levels to provide the quality education the community has come to expect. He said the figure represents a $4.4 million increase over the current fiscal budget, an increase of 8.85 percent.

The proposed budget will restore 21 of the 31 full-time teaching positions that had been cut in previous budget cycles, Mr. Sawyer said. Of the 21 teaching positions, he said seven are at the elementary level, eight are at the middle school level and six are at the high school level.

He added that restoring the positions represents $1.1 million of the total budget increase and would bring down the average classroom size from 29 students to 26 students.

Mr. Sawyer said the current level of funding is not adequate to meet the needs of students, and resources are stretched thin around the district. He said he had the following goals in mind when drafting the budget:

• Improve class sizes

• Maintain the current educational program

• Restore administrative positions put on hiatus

• Meet state mandates

• Increase response to students' behavioral and mental health needs.

Mr. Sawyer said the budget also takes increased security into account, seeking three fulltime receptionist or “entry monitor” positions. He said he recognizes the challenges in promoting an increased budget, but said he is both “confident” and “optimistic” the community will act to support education.

School Committee members were unanimous in supporting the superintendent's recommendation. School Committee member Jason F. Palitsch said it is a significant first step in signaling to the community that school officials have heard residents' concerns and are taking action to lower class size.

School Committee member John R. Samia said he and his fellow committee members went too far in cutting 31 positions last year.

“This budget is a start,” Mr. Samia said. “We have so far to go before we can catch up to where we need to be.”

Committee member Sandra M. Fryc said that while the dollar figure seems high, the school district's needs are real. “This isn't a pie-in-the-sky wish list,” she said. “We can't keep cutting. We need to move (the educational program) forward.”

School Committee Chairman Erin H. Canzano said obtaining support for the budget will be a challenge. She said she looks forward to engaging the community and the other town boards to move the proposed budget forward.

“It's hard because children's futures are intangible,” Ms. Canzano said. “We need to advocate this as a substantial investment in our students.”